"I'm sorry," Mom murmured weakly. "I didn't mean to ruin your birthday."
"Mom, you didn't ruin anything, okay?" Vanessa said softly, sitting beside her on the hospital bed.
"You should get some rest," I added, gently stroking her hair.
She smiled faintly and took both Vanessa's hand and mine in hers before slowly closing her eyes.
My gaze drifted to the IV connected to her hand while the steady beeping of the machines filled the room.
"She's going to be fine," Vanessa whispered after noticing the worry on my face.
I nodded, but deep down, I didn't know what to believe anymore.
Mom had been battling stage two leukemia, and we were only just finding out.
The guilt hit me all at once.
While she had been suffering silently, we had gone on with our lives, completely unaware. It made me
